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Town Hall Rich List: Council chief executive salary figures revealed

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Town Hall Rich List: Council chief executive salary figures revealed

A list revealing the salaries of Nottinghamshire‘s council chief executives has been published.

The figures were published by pressure group The TaxPayers’ Alliance, which releases a ‘Town Hall Rich List’, showing the number of council officer posts across the country which earn more than £100,000 a year.

Newark and Sherwood District Council has been revealed as having the highest-paid chief executive of all district councils Nottinghamshire.

The council also employs a deputy chief executive, meaning the authority spends a combined total of £233,723 a year on the two posts.

None of the Nottinghamshire councils made the top ten on the list of highest-paid posts, but the figures show Newark and Sherwood District Council spend more on its chief executive, John Robinson, than any other borough or district council.

Mr Robinson’s salary at Newark is £128,281, which is higher than all the other six district council chief executives, and also higher than the Nottingham City Council chief executive, Mel Barrett.

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All of the Nottinghamshire council chief exectuive roles command salaries above £100,000 a year, and some officer positions which are unique to their respective authorities are paid higher than the chief executive.

The chief executive for Gedling gets paid £115,753, in Broxtowe £115,328, in Bassetlaw £121,404, in Rushcliffe £113,316, in Mansfield £116,000 and in Ashfield £114,761.

Newark also has a deputy chief executive as well, who is paid £105,442 a year. The only other local authority to have a deputy is Broxtowe Borough Council, which pays £97,027 a year for the role.

Nottinghamshire County Council spends more than any of the other local authorities in the county, with its chief executive Anthony May paid £185,386 a year.

A spokesman for Newark and Sherwood District Council defended the wages it pays its chief executive and deputy chief executive.

In a statement, the Conservative-run authority said:  “Newark and Sherwood is geographically the largest district council out of seven in Nottinghamshire and covers approximately a third of the county with 65,134 hectares of land including 84 civil parishes and 21 wards.

“As a district council we deliver essential services to around 121,000 residents across 56,780 households in the district. We employ 634 people and for the current financial year 2022/23, our annual gross budget for non-housing services is just under £48million.

 “We are one of the few Nottinghamshire authorities who have our own social housing stock of more than 5,541 homes with an associated annual budget of £26.5m.

“In addition, the council has capital schemes to deliver over the next four years to a value of £130m. The council’s senior management worked to secure £25m for Newark’s Towns Fund Deal, which will leverage other third party funding in order to provide new educational, training and employment opportunities.

“More recently, £20m of Levelling Up funding has been secured to unlock the completion of the A1 to A46 link road that will enable completion of the development of around 3,000 new homes to the south of the district.   

“Newark and Sherwood District Council, nor any local authority in Nottinghamshire, is included in the Town Hall Rich List Report, which determines the top ten or twenty individual salaries, bonuses and expenses. We do not offer bonuses for our employees.

“The data from the TaxPayers’ Alliance shows that the salary for our chief executive is ranked 188 out of 317 local authorities and 6 out of 24 for the East Midlands and is proportionate to the high level of responsibility of the role.”

The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked each local authority to provide reasons for the £100,000-plus salaries. Some responded, others did not.

Nottingham City Council:

  • Corporate director – development and growth – £130,859
  • Corporate director – covid response and recovery – £123,042
  • Corporate director – people – £143, 850
  • Corporate director – commercial and operations £38,679 + 88,170
  • Chief executive – Mel Barratt – £104,891
  • Director of Public Health – £107,362
  • Director for legal governance and monitoring – £103,445

A Nottingham City Council spokesman said: “Large unitary authorities have annual budgets in the hundreds of millions of pounds and need high-calibre managers to steer a wide range of complex services – from care of the elderly through to housing, public transport and many more.

“Nottingham City Council serves one of the biggest and fastest-growing cities in the country, delivering public services to almost 350,000 people.

“It’s important to remember that more than 99.9 per cent of our staff are not in this pay category and are dedicated to delivering the vital local services that people have particularly relied on over the past two years of the pandemic.

“Senior manager and director-level pay in the private sector in similar-sized organisations is generally much higher than it is in councils.”

Nottinghamshire County Council

  • Chief executive – Anthony May – £185,386
  • Corporate director – £147,118
  • Corporarte director – £137,494
  • Corporate director – £132,356
  • Service director – £102,974
  • Service director – £102,974
  • Director of Public Health – £98,869
  • Two undisclosed posts, both at £102,500

Anthony May, chief executive of Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “Nottinghamshire County Council is the 10th largest local authority in England and directly employs 7,500 council employees, 14,000 including our maintained schools, with a further 1,471 people employed in the council’s arms-length companies.

“The county council has a gross budget of £1bn and provides more than 400 services to a population of over 810,000 people, including some of the county’s most vulnerable people.

“The council is committed to openness and transparency in its approach to setting the pay of our most senior officers whose salaries are independently evaluated external to the council .

“The number of employees receiving over £100,000 total remuneration is eight, which is in line with the average across all local authorities in the UK.

“The county council has been at the forefront of Nottinghamshire’s response to the pandemic and will play a key role in the county’s recovery. It is important that the council continues to attract the best quality leaders.”

Rushcliffe Borough Council

  • Chief executive – Kath Marriott – £113,316
  • Executive director £90,705
  • Executive director £87,906
  • Executive director £87,906
  • Executive director £85,569

 A Rushcliffe Borough Council spokesman said: “We deliver high quality services to over 115,000 people across the borough with the lowest council tax rate anywhere in Nottinghamshire and within the lowest 25 per cent in the country.

“Our dedicated teams across the organisation balance the council’s priorities on the environment, quality of life, efficient services and sustainable growth bucking the trend to similar-sized councils and operating services with no debt.

“With other Local Resilience Forum partners, the council has been among those fronting the response to Covid-19, playing a vital role in distributing over £36m of grants and £19.2m of reduction in business rate bills and assisting communities’ transition to the central government living with Covid plan.”

Broxtowe Borough Council

  • Chief executive – Ruth Hyde – £115,328
  • Deputy chief executive – £97,027

Gedling Borough Council

  • Chief executive – Mike Hill – £115,753

Newark and Sherwood District Council  

  • Chief executive – John Robinson – £128,281
  • Deputy chief executive – £105,442
  • Director – £85,924
  • Director £85,924
  • Director £85,298

Bassetlaw District Council

  • Chief executive  – £121,404. David Armiger is currently the interim chief executive so it is not certain if he is paid this wage.

Mansfield District Council

  • Chief executive – £116,000
  • Strategic manager – £84,000
  • Strategic manager – £82,000

Mike Robinson, co-chief executive officer (Interim) at Mansfield District Council, said: “All the senior officer salaries at Mansfield District Council are subject to approval by the council’s Personnel Committee after benchmarking salaries across the East Midlands for local authorities.

“Pay awards are made in line with the Joint National Committee for Chief Officers. The salaries are more or less in line with the average in this region for these roles.”

Ashfield District Council

  • Chief executive – Theresa Hodgkinson – £114,761

Gedling borough residents urged to help NHS

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Gedling borough residents urged to help NHS

Residents in Gedling borough can support the NHS by choosing the right health services.

Health bosses are asking people living in the borough to use 111 online first, urgent treatment centres, GPs and pharmacies if it is a minor illness or injury and is not life threatening.

They say the pressures the NHS are seeing are not down to a single reason, but can be attributed to a number of things including; the rise of people testing positive for Covid-19, an increase in patients needing to be admitted to hospital with other illnesses, and too many patients in hospital beds who are well enough to leave but are unable to.

They said patients in hospital beds who are well enough to go home, prevents hospital trusts from using them for patients who need specialist care.

Currently across the system in Notts the NHS has 485 patients in hospitals who have tested positive for Covid-19. For the majority of patients Covid-19 is not the primary reason for their admission, however this still causes pressures due to patients needing to be isolated for infection control reasons, so we continue to ask the public to remain vigilant and consider wearing masks in crowded areas.

If it’s urgent but not an emergency you can visit 111 online to speak to a nurse, GP or emergency dentist. 

Urgent treatment centres can be used for things like; fractures, sprains, minor burns, and skin infections. The Urgent Treatment Centre on London Road in Nottingham is open 7am – 9pm and the Urgent Treatment Centre in Newark is open 9am – 9:30pm.

Pharmacies have experts in allergies, constipation, headaches, ear aches and cold and flu treatments.

Lisa Kelly, chief operating officer at Nottingham University Hospitals Trust, said: “We are here and ready to provide the specialist care for the most poorly people in our communities and we value your support in helping us to do this.

QMC

“People who are attending our Emergency Department with a minor illness, are waiting a very long time to be seen. For minor illness and injuries please consider accessing other services provided by our highly skilled colleagues such as your GP, pharmacists, the Urgent Treatment Centre at London Road and NHS 111.

“We are grateful to families for continuing to do everything they can to support loved ones to return home.”

Amanda Sullivan, Accountable Officer at NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire CCG, said: “Our hospitals remain under significant pressure. This is a result of rising staff sickness levels, busy emergency departments, the number of Covid-19 patients as well as the need to discharge patients who no longer need to be in hospital. You can help us to manage this pressure by making sure you wear face coverings in our hospitals, helping to get your relatives back home and by choosing the right service. We would like to remind people to make sure they only attend emergency departments if it is an emergency. If you are unsure, use NHS 111 Online first and they will direct you to the right service for your needs.”

Notts angler caught more than he bargained for in Colwick

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Notts angler caught more than he bargained for in Colwick

A Nottingham man’s fishing trip in the middle of the night on the River Trent in Colwick, in September 2021 has cost him £619 after he illegally removed fish from the river.

His case was brought to Nottingham Magistrates Court by the Environment Agency on Tuesday 5 April where 37-year-old Piotr Czyzak, of Leonard Street, Nottingham, was found guilty to the offence of removing the fish.

He was fined £440 and ordered to pay £135 costs and a victim surcharge of £44. 

The defendant was found by Environment Agency fisheries enforcement officers to be in possession of Chub that he had removed from the river on 4 September 2021. 

WARNING: Don’t forget your fishing licence

Following the verdict, Lee Watts, Fisheries Enforcement Officer for the Environment Agency, said:

“We found the defendant with the fish that had been removed from the River Trent while out on our night patrols, between 3am – 4am. On this occasion the defendant had a valid fishing licence, but it is also imperative for anglers to observe fishing byelaws.

“The case shows how seriously the courts take these offences and we hope the penalty will act as a deterrent to any angler who is thinking of breaking fishing byelaws.  Not complying with the byelaws can incur a fine of up to £50,000.”

The Environment Agency carries out enforcement work all year round and is supported by partners including the police and the Angling Trust. Fisheries enforcement work is intelligence-led, targeting known hot-spots and where illegal fishing is reported.

Anyone with information about illegal fishing activities can contact the Environment Agency Incident Hotline 24/7 on 0800 80 70 60 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Michael Payne enters race to be next MP for Gedling

David Bratton
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Michael Payne enters race to be next MP for Gedling

Michael Payne has entered the race to become Gedling‘s next MP.

Labour Party members will soon start the process of selecting their next parliamentary candidate who will stand against current MP Tom Randall in the next election.

The Arnold-born candidate said he decided to enter the running after feeling the area had been ‘let down’ over the past two years by the Conservative MP.

Mr Payne is currently deputy leader of Gedling Borough Council and also represents Arnold North on Nottinghamshire County Council.

He said: “We currently have the Member of Parliament Tom Randall and the one thing going for him is that he is from Arnold, but it’s not just about living here, it’s about delivering for here and I’ve been doing that for the last 12 years in my council roles.

“I look at the votes from our Member of Parliament, whether it be voting against providing free school meals for kids during the pandemic or voting to pour raw sewage in the waterways and our rivers – or voting for what we see now: the highest tax burden for people who live here in Gedling since the 1940s, which is the highest since records began – it’s not right.

PICTURED: Michael Payne was at Gedling Country Park earlier today to launch his campaign (PHOTO: Neil Slack Photography)

“I can remember when Tom announced his candidacy and he said he wanted to be the Member of Parliament for Gedling so he could reward and recognise the hard work from people in Gedling. Well, he has a strange way of doing that when we see energy bills soaring through the roof; when we see tax rises their highest since 1940s – and he and the government are doing very little about it.

“I cant just stand by while my home town and while the place I owe everything to [Gedling] continues to be let down by this government and this member of parliament.

“Many residents have said to me over recent weeks that we need a strong voice; we need somebody to stand up for us who is routed in Gedling, who understands the issues and will argue for us down in Westminster. Over the last two years under Tom it feels like we’ve had a voice from Westminster to Gedling and not Gedling’s voice in Westminster and I cant stand by and let that happen.

PICTURE: Neil Slack Photography

“I feel that the businesses here, the community here and the people here deserve somebody who is routed here, knows Gedling, cares about Gedling, is from Gedling and is going to fight their corner.”

Mr Payne said the country faced a ‘big choice’ in the next General Election.

“When it comes to crunch issues I think there is a big choice facing the country in the next General Election,” he said.

“We have the worst waiting times in the NHS since records began and before the coronavirus pandemic started they had already escalated from just over 2 milllion to 4.4 million, so let’s have none of this about the government telling us it’s about Covid

“One constituent I serve as councillor for Arnold rang me last week after tragically losing her husband. They had rang for an ambulance because he was really struggling with his breathing and they said ‘ring us back if it gets worse’. She pleaded for an ambulance to turn up and in the end it didn’t and he passed away at home. You sit there, you hear that and you feel powerless – and that’s why I want to become the Member of Parliament for Gedling because things have to change.”

A vote for who will be Labour’s parliamentary candidate will take place next month, with Jamie McMahon also hoping to be selected.

Batman to Sonic the Hedgehog: The top big screen picks at The Bonington in Arnold this April

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Batman to Sonic the Hedgehog: The top big screen picks at The Bonington in Arnold this April

The big screen is back this spring – and with big blockbuster film releases, original plots, and new and familiar characters, there has never been a better time to get lost in a great story on the silver screen.

The Bonington in Arnold has some great films lined up over April for those planning a spring cinema trip, from exciting new films to big screen sequels…

Sonic The Hedgehog 2

After the events of the first film, Sonic is determined to make his mark as a hero and decides to stay in Green Hills while Tom and Maddie go on vacation.

When Doctor Eggman returns from the mushroom planet in search for the Master Emerald to conquer the world and exact revenge against Sonic with the help of Knuckles the Echidna, Sonic and his new friend Miles “Tails” Prower set out to find the emerald before it falls into the wrong hands.

The film is available to watch from Friday, April 8

The Batman

Batman ventures into Gotham City’s underworld when a sadistic killer leaves behind a trail of cryptic clues.

As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator’s plans become clear, he must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit and bring justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued the metropolis.

This big blockbuster is showing at The Bonington from Friday, April 8

The Bad Guys

In a world where humans and anthropomorphic animals coexist, a gang of criminal animals known as Mr. Wolf, Mr. Piranha, Mr. Snake, Mr. Shark, and Ms. Tarantula have made a deal to go good to avoid serving prison time.

But with Mr. Wolf beginning to enjoy this new lifestyle, a new villain emerges…

The film is screening from Friday, April 16

The Phantom of the Open

A heart-warming British comedy starring Oscar Winner Mark Rylance, the true story of Maurice Flitcroft, the worst golfer to ever the play the British Open.

The film is screening from Monday, April 18

National Theatre Live: Henry V

Kit Harington (Game of Thrones) plays the title role in Shakespeare’s thrilling study of nationalism, war and the psychology of power.

Fresh to the throne, King Henry V launches England into a bloody war with France. When his campaign encounters resistance, this inexperienced new ruler must prove he is fit to guide a country into war.

Captured live from the Donmar Warehouse in London, this exciting modern production directed by Max Webster (Life of Pi) explores what it means to be English and our relationship to Europe, asking: do we ever get the leaders we deserve? 

Screenings on Thursday, April 21 and Saturday, 23

You can book tickets for the films listed above here: https://theatre-web.gedling.gov.uk/Ticket/Diary

VIDEO: Gedling MP makes Poland visit to see Ukrainian refugee centres

Gedling Eye Reporter
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VIDEO: Gedling MP makes Poland visit to see Ukrainian refugee centres

Gedling MP Tom Randall is in Poland to speak with politicians about Ukrainian refugees and said officials were full of praise for the UK about the aid they were offering.

Mr Randall is visiting Gdańsk and Warsaw over the coming days to see Ukrainian refugee centres.

During his visit he said he plans to help with some project work at a refugee centre and meet Polish government officials.

Mr Randall said: “The visit, I hope, will give me a better understanding of the situation on the ground here in Poland.

Ambulance Netherfield Ukraine
Ambulances full of donations from residents left Netherfield for Ukraine on Thursday (PHOTO: Neil Slack Photography)

“Yesterday I flew into Gdańsk and met the Governor of Pomerania to hear about the work that has been going on in his region. He particularly praised the UK for their generous help with aid.”

Earlier this week, ambulances entered Ukraine containing aid from Carlton and Netherfield.

Regulars at pubs in both towns made the donations, with over 100 bags of essential items being collected for those hiding from Russian shelling.

Nottingham City Transport reveals details of bus services in Gedling borough over Easter Bank Holiday weekend

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Nottingham City Transport reveals details of bus services in Gedling borough over Easter Bank Holiday weekend

Bus firm Nottingham City Transport has revealed details of its services in Gedling borough over next weekend’s Easter Bank Holidays.

If you’re looking to get out and about over the Easter weekend, here’s what you need to know.

Good Friday (April 15) 

A Saturday timetable will operate on all services which will run to their normal weekday times.

Saturday (April 16) 

A normal Saturday timetable will operate

44 bus Gedling

Easter Sunday (April 17) 

A normal Sunday timetable will operate

Easter Monday (April 18) 

A Sunday timetable will operate. The Bank Holiday timetable will operate on Navy 49X to Boots 

Tuesday (April 19) 
A normal timetables resume

Easyrider travel card users are being urged to top up before the holiday weekend to ensure it can be used over Easter.

An NCT Spokesman said: “Please top up your Easyrider travel card before 16:00 on April 14, 2022 to ensure your card remains available to use over the Easter weekend.

“Any online top ups made between 16:00 on 14th April 2022 until end of Easter Monday inclusive will not be processed until Tuesday 19th April.

“Use the NCTX Buses app to buy tickets, which are available to activate immediately after purchase.”

Stoke Bardolph pub giving away free slippers this Sunday

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Stoke Bardolph pub giving away free slippers this Sunday

Pub and restaurant-goers can grab themselves a pair of free slippers this weekend if they attend The Ferry Boat Inn Pub in Stoke Bardolph from 12pm on Sunday, April 10.

The first 20 guests in each pub to request a pair of ‘Sunday Slippers’ from staff while ordering their food will receive a pair of branded slippers for free.

Hungry Horse has created the custom slippers to mark the relaunch of their Sunday dishes, a fantastic offering including classic roast dinners served with spuds, mashed potato, carrots, peas, green beans, cauliflower, Yorkshire pudding and gravy.

For guests looking for an alternative to a traditional roast, the Sunday Best Burger is a fantastic choice – a burger with cheese, bacon, beef dripping burnt ends, coleslaw, red onion, tomato, baby gem and finished with gravy mayo and horseradish. 

Rob Calderbank, business Unit Director at Hungry Horse, said: “Before the pandemic, our homes were a haven away from daily commitments like work and school. Now, they have transformed into the places we work, educate, exercise and much more.

“This has made us more appreciative of home comforts than ever before, with many people now accustomed to spending more time at home. 

“At Hungry Horse, we’re big on getting together, and our pubs are a home away from home for so many of our guests. That’s why Sundays for us is about people embracing their home comforts and relaxing, while enjoying a meal out with their friends or family. 

“We’re so excited to launch the new Sunday Slippers across the UK – simply head into yThe Ferry Boat Inn on April 10 and speak to a team member to grab your pair!” 

Tom Randall MP urges older people in Gedling borough to apply for pension credit

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Tom Randall MP urges older people in Gedling borough to apply for pension credit

A Gedling MP is urging older people in the borough to apply for pension credit – as the Government has updated its guidance.

Mr Randall revealed only around 63% of people who are eligible to receive Pension Credit claim it, making it is one of the lowest take-up levels for an income related benefit.

Last year, Randall signed up to become a Pension Credit Champion to support the charity Independent Age’s campaign on Pension Credit take-up across Gedling.

On Tuesday, the MP was hand delivering his Pension Credit Factsheet to Carlton residents on Manor Green Walk.

He said “I signed up as a Pension Credit Champion because I want to see every pensioner in Gedling who is entitled to Pension Credit receive it.

“I have created a Pension Credit Factsheet that explains what this benefit is, who can claim it, how people can find out if they qualify for it and how a claim can be made.

“I will be posting my Pension Credit Factsheet out to over 650 residents across Gedling”

Pensioners across Gedling are encouraged to check if they are eligible for Pension Credit by visiting www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator and can apply for Pension Credit online at apply-for-pension-credit.service.gov.uk/start or by phoning 0800 99 1234.

After delivering his Pension Credit Factsheet to residents in Carlton, Tom said “Anyone in Gedling who would like a copy of my Pension Credit Factsheet is welcome to contact my office and I will post one out to you”.

Gedling woman to take part in Extinction Rebellion protest in London on Friday

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Gedling woman to take part in Extinction Rebellion protest in London on Friday

On Friday, A woman from Gedling will be among 60 local climate activists travelling to London as part of Extinction Rebellion’s April Rebellion which starts tomorrow.

Extinction Rebellion has planned the disruptive protests in London in order to push the UK government to meet its demands, which are: no new fossil fuel investments, no new fossil fuel licences and an end to fossil fuel subsidies.

Some of them have said they are prepared to be arrested as they take part in peaceful civil-disobedience on the streets of the capital, and some will avoid arrest, but swell the numbers on the streets, and speak to passers by.

Some protesters will stay behind in Nottingham to explain to the public the aims of the massive London protest and invite new people to join the group. 

“I have every intention of being arrested again this weekend” said Amanda Pumo, 62.

“For years I have signed petitions, voted thinking about who will do the best for the environment, and what’s happened? Everything has got worse, that’s what happened.”

The property manager from Gedling added: “No one in their right mind wants to spend a weekend in police cells, but I feel compelled to do the right thing for my grandchildren – and it feels like civil disobedience is the only thing left to try to make the government listen.”

Etienne Stott, 42, London 2012 Olympic champion from the Meadows has been arrested 7 times. “Our government has no right to make decisions that’ll destroy my future as they cosy up to their fossil fuel pals. I’m outraged that they act in contradiction to scientific facts and against the advice of respected international bodies. And more and more juries are acquitting activists when they hear the evidence activists give in defence.” 

Dorry Lake, 71, retired psychotherapist, Carrington, has been to all the London ‘Rebellions’ since the group began in 2018 and has been arrested previously said “The war in Ukraine, and the massive increase in gas prices both show we need to decarbonise our economy. Our government has consistently underfunded solutions, such as investing in renewable energy and public transport, and it’s slashed support for home insulation. These things could create lots of high quality jobs and make people warmer and healthier.”

Instead the government permits energy companies to make huge profits, whilst many people are forced to choose between heating or eating. Extinction Rebellion has repeatedly called for a Citizen’s Assembly formed of a randomly selected cross-section of UK society to create a decarbonisation plan that would benefit everyday citizens. Ordinary people advised by top scientists could chart a rapid and fair path to free politicians from the political difficulty of making long term decisions. 

Dorry Lake added “It is such a tough time, people really struggling to pay their bills, and the horrors of war in our faces. But we can’t let the government put the Climate Emergency on the back burner. It dwarfs everything, and if we want any kind of future, I feel we have to keep bringing home that this is urgent. The Climate Crisis has to be our number one priority.”

Nottingham will see Extinction Rebellion activists on Goosegate in Hockley from 10.30am on Saturday 9th April and on Tuesday 12th April, outside the Europe’s biggest banker in fossil fuels, Barclays, (behind the Council House) from 10.30am, letting passers by know how simple it is to switch bank. 

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